Theoretical and empirical knowledge: unity and interconnection

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:43

Scientific knowledge is understood as the process of identifying the objective patterns of the surrounding reality through scientific methods. It is customary to distinguish between the empirical and theoretical levels of scientific knowledge.

Empirical knowledge is a direct, "live" study of reality through observation, comparison, experiment and measurement of objects and phenomena of the surrounding world.

There is an opinion that the classification of facts is empirical knowledge, but work with materials obtained empirically belongs to the field of theoretical knowledge. This level of cognition is indirect, differs in methodology and terminological apparatus used. Abstract categories and logical constructs are used here.

Empirical and theoretical levels of knowledge are inseparable. Scientific knowledge cannot be only theoretical or only empirical, just as it is impossible to roll a wheel using only one of itshemisphere.

Thus, it is empirically possible to study the physical and chemical properties of specific objects that exist in the real world: for example, several fragments of rock. In the course of comparison, observation, experiments, and in the process of applying other methods of empirical knowledge, it may turn out that the properties of these fragments are identical. In this case, at the theoretical level, it is possible to put forward a hypothesis according to which any rock that has the whole complex of given features will have similar physical and chemical properties. To confirm this hypothesis, it is necessary to turn again to empirical methods and choose other rock fragments for the experiment that have the given features. If the same properties are found in them, the hypothesis is considered confirmed and receives the right to be called a law, which will be formulated theoretically.

Theoretical and empirical knowledge of social phenomena has a special specificity. The difficulty lies in identifying the features and properties of the object under study, because social phenomena have a nature that is fundamentally different from the nature of the objects of the exact sciences. To identify the patterns of social phenomena, it is necessary to study the history of events significant for the phenomenon under study and the reaction of the group under study. For example, dissatisfied with the activities of the authorities, members of a society in which there is no private property may start a revolutionary movement. It would seem that the violent method of changing power is a natural reaction tostate arbitrariness, but, having in their ownership even the minimum of goods necessary for survival, the same citizens will be afraid of losing them during a coup, which means that they will be much less inclined to revolution. Thus, the theoretical and empirical knowledge of social phenomena is often much more difficult than the study of phenomena related to the exact sciences.

Scientific knowledge is necessary for the study of the surrounding world. Using the methodology that makes up these levels allows you to deduce patterns and predict events, and makes a person's life safer and happier.